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Updated: Jul 20, 2026

A Protocol for Analyzing Hepatitis C Virus Replication
Published on: June 26, 2014
Prolonged negative HCV-RNA status led to a good outcome in chronic hepatitis C patients with genotype 1b and
Hiroshi Kohno1, Shiomi Aimitsu, Mikiya Kitamoto
1Department of Hepatology, Hiroshima Red Cross Hospital and Atomic Bomb Survivors' Hospital, and Department of Medicine and Molecular Science, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, Japan. liverdis@hiroshima-med.jrc.or.jp
Objective:
We examined whether a sustained negative HCV-RNA status for 48 weeks affects the outcome in patients with genotype 1b and super-high viral load, and also investigated whether the outcome is affected by the induction therapy of twice-daily pre-administrated interferon (IFN)-beta.
Methods:
78 eligible patients were divided into four groups. 40 were patients assigned to the short treatment protocol. 13 patients received 3 MU IFN-beta twice daily for 2 weeks followed by IFN-alpha2b+ribavirin for 22 weeks (beta-induction group: group 1). 27 patients received IFN-alpha2b+ribavirin for 24 weeks (standard combination group: group 2). 38 patients were assigned to the maintenance treatment protocol. All of the 13 in the beta-induction group (group 3) and 21 of 25 patients in the standard combination group (group 4) who were negative HCV-RNA PCR at week 24 had IFN monotherapy to maintain a negative HCV-RNA result for 48 weeks.
Results:
An HCV-RNA-negative status at week 24 was observed in 96% (25/26) of groups 1 and 3 versus in 79% (41/52) of groups 2 and 4 (p<0.01). The sustained virological response (SVR) was 38% (5/13) in group 1 and 11% (3/27) in group 2 (p<0.05). In the maintenance treatment, SVR was observed in 46% (6/13) of group 3 and 32% (8/25) of group 4 (NS).
Conclusions:
A sustained negative HCV-RNA status for 48 weeks might be associated with viral elimination in patients with genotype 1 and super-high viral load.
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